Ostranauts: Tips for Navigating Space

Unlike other videogames incorporating space travel, Navigating space in Ostranauts takes a more grounded approach.

The current ships in Ostranauts feel clunky as if they are designed with function over aesthetics. Occasionally, letting out a groan or a spark to remind you how vulnerable you are. Rather than continuously using thrusters for flashy maneuvers, the game requires carefully managing your ship’s positioning and momentum. It’s like a real shuttle.

Patience and attention are essential. Being absentminded will result in your character crashing and instantly dying. Or worse, your character survives the crash only to suffocate or succumb to C02 poisoning.

In this guide, we’ll give you tips on safely maneuvering your ship in the derelict littered space of Ostranauts.

Take Off

Before you go into space, you’re going to have to undock.

Each ship is controlled via a navigation console. To access the navigation console, right-click on it and select the use option at the bottom of the screen. This will take you to the ship controls UI.

To undock, you should:

1. Click on Comms Control on the right side of the screen.
2. Select hail ship.
3. Select the ship/location where you’re currently docked. Should be the top left option.
4. Then, you should request clearance to undock.
5. Once you’re cleared, click the clamps button on the left side of the screen to release your ship’s clamps. Once released, you’re free to explore.

Related: How to Play as a Salvager in Ostranauts

Ship Travel And Selecting A Target

There are some tidbits worth remembering when using the navigation console. In the Nav Controls section, the map is on the left side of the screen. On the right side are things like view settings, alarms, etc. The map also contains several values.

• VREL – This is your ship’s relative velocity. Your momentum. To go forward, press or hold W. To go back, press or hold S.
• VCRS – This is your ship’s horizontal positioning/horizontal speed. The value of VCRS should be 0 or close; otherwise, your ship will travel on a curved line. Press or hold A to drift to the left. Press or hold D to drift to the right.
• RNG – The range between your ship and your selected target.
• BRG – Your ship’s bearing relative to your selected target. If your bearing is 0, your ship is directly facing its target. Press or hold E to rotate clockwise. Press or hold Q to rotate counterclockwise.
• ETA – Estimated time of arrival. ETA is based on VREL, naturally.

The important thing when traveling is to keep VCRS and BRG close to 0 to reach your target without performing additional maneuvers midflight. You can press R at any time to stabilize your ship’s movement (excluding forward movement/VREL). This is extremely useful when trying to position yourself.

To select a target, go to the nav controls section of the UI and simply click on any target you desire. Use the mouse to zoom in or out or to use the controls below the screen.

Below the positioning values are your fuel and power reserves. Your ship will gradually drain these resources when traveling, so keep that in mind when planning to travel long distances.

Additionally, on the top left of the screen are the speed settings for the game world. You can pause, slow down, or accelerate. Slowing down is useful if you’re trying to dock or pass through debris. Speeding up is useful to cut down on wait time between traveling. However, the game speed directly affects your inputs. Press any button when the game speed is x16, and you’ll definitely lose control of your ship. Always have the game set at normal speed when making maneuvers.

Safe Travel

Here’s how to dock at any location.

1. Select your target.
2. Rotate so that you’re directly facing your target. Your bearing value should be 0 or close.
3. Make sure VCRS (your horizontal movement) is close to 0. That way, you will travel toward your target in a straight line.
4. Hold W to build momentum. The more momentum you build, the sooner you’ll reach your target, but at the cost of having less time to react to sudden obstacles like incoming ships.
5. Your bearing and horizontal position will naturally shift as you move towards your target since locations drift in real-time. For finer positioning, only lightly tap the keys.
6. As you get closer to your target, occasionally press the S key to reduce your momentum. This will make docking much easier.
7. When you’re within 5 kilometers of your target, the game will automatically go into real-time, and the proximity alarm will go off. Slow down immediately if you’re coming at a speed above 100 m/s.
8. Once your speed is acceptable, return to the communication section, select hail ship, and request docking clearance.
9. Once you’re cleared, you’ll have to align the clamp. The key to a successful docking is to take it slowly and carefully. The docking screen will show you your movement values. Lightly tap the keys to make sure you are perfectly aligned.
10. Once the clamp screen turns green, immediately press the clamps button to dock.

And there you have it. Now you know how to traverse the space of Ostranauts.

The world of Ostranauts is vast, with many unique encounters and mechanics to uncover. The Guide Hall hopes to help you explore its immense reach with in-depth guides!